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The world is a violent, uncivilized place. Barbarians have complete hegemony over the earth's vast and untapped resources. Over the millennia, certain tribes have gathered themselves into small settlements to protect themselves against the wrath of the rampant warlords - some have given themselves various names to differentiate themselves from the other tribes, and have developed cultures of their own.

In the year 4,000 B.C.E. our tribes have had enough of barbarian rule, and begin to settle the world with one goal in mind - conquest.

As the early B.C.E. years pass, a civilization called the "Russians" are a simple collective. With nothing but Expansionism in mind, the Russians begin to colonize their Eastern European lands with the goals of meeting their neighbors and growing their primitive empire.

In the last few millennia, the Russian people have grown familiar with their surroundings. They continue to explore in all directions, and make contact with a series of new civilizations (The Germans, The English, The Mongols, The Chinese, The Portuguese, The French, and The Greeks). It's yet to be determined whether these civilizations are trustworthy allies or sworn enemies, as only time and further exchanges will tell. A series of fortuitous trades *have* led to an increase in the Russian workforce and a surplus of gold reserves.

Our settlers continue their march primarily in the East direction, with a few additional cities moving Westward. Luxuries are scarce, as we only find Incense in the Chinese desert and dangerously close to Mongol territories, as are resources, with the exception of a natural abundance of horses in the Eastern European / Asian territories that have come to be known as Russian lands. Food is also in abundance as the Russian people settle along a fruitful sea.

Within the first few years of the new millennium our neighbor to the west (Germany) asks for tribute that we can't provide (for strategic and economic reasons). The next few years are spent building a small, defensive military, accompanied by a plea to the English for a military alliance and continued bargains with our surrounding neighbors for purchased labor.

The Russian peoples find themselves embroiled in a two front conflict as the Chinese and Germans demands for technological tribute are met with firm rejection. Watch as the tension on the Western front de-escalates as the backwards, pagan, Russian civilization demands tributes of its own from the Egyptian and Mongol peoples.

Russian pagan wisemen are recruited and forced to resettle to the un-advanced capital of Moscow. Their forced aim? Obtain all knowledge known to the Ancient World and record their findings in a new, Great Library.

We finish this part with a few years left until the completion of this Great Wonder, hoping that neighboring civilizations don't beat us to it, as the wars escalate in the East and de-escalate in the West.

For the past 300 years, pagan-Russian wisemen have reaped the benefits of their Wonder of Knowledge, and have studied the many technologies of surrounding civilizations.

The Russian civilization is still primitive by any standards, but the people begin to improve their settled lands (which vary from forrest-laden to empty plain lands). Under a firm, despotic rule, the people suffer but roads and canals are built. Make no mistake - this is a very dark period in Russian history where lands are accumulated but at a high cost.

Surrounding, neighboring civilizations embrace enlightened standards of government, claiming that authority stems from 'Divine Right' or - even crazier by Russian standards - from 'The People' themselves. Those civilizations see immense boosts in military and commerce while Russia continues to send her settlers to undeveloped lands.

We enter the new age (B.C.E. - A.D.) in a transition of government. Our 'anarchic' period is better described as one of 'restructuring' - in a move sponsored by the great leader, Russia enters disarray as power is forced into the tight clasp of a few select Boyarins (nobles), since the empire is growing too large and communications are too slow for one powerful leader.

The future Russia is still tightly controlled by an almighty leader, who now presides over a state run by Boyarins and who still have absolute authority over the peoples.

The Boyarins succeed in consolidating power, crushing worker uprisings, and increasing the power of the almighty despot to even greater heights. Under their fierce rule and with no value placed on human life, the terrain is deforested, mined, and irrigated to produce more food for additional population growth, which is forced to go into either hard labor or military service.

As a result of these actions, Russian settlers achieve one of their greatest triumphs - access to "Severniye Okiyani" - "Northern Oceans." In the years to come the amount of settlements will increase as merchants rush to the bustling port cities which will surely fill their (and the government's) coffers.

War is strategically declared on Spain, a struggling, backwards civilization in the far, uncharted South. Military alliances are planned between surrounding, stronger civilizations in order to build relationships and incite a struggle against a common, albeit weak, foe.

This period is formally becoming known as "Stroika" by the Russian peoples. With the exclusion of skirmishes along the South Border with the backwards Spanish settlers, no conflict is experienced as our developing civilization engages in "war on paper" to build diplomatic relations.

Settlement continues to the North and to the East as eager settlers stream into the bitter arctic to reach the Northern Oceans - they will result in profitable relations in the near future.

As close ties are built with Portugal, Egypt, Germany, and France, relations with China and Mongolia stagnate.

The Russian people look forward to a continued period of warlessness and stability, and hope "Stroika" lasts as long as it can.

This period is formally becoming known as "Stroika" by the Russian peoples. Settlement continues to the North and to the East as eager settlers stream into the bitter arctic to reach the Northern Oceans - they will result in profitable relations in the near future.

As close ties are built with Portugal, Egypt, Germany, and France, relations with China and Mongolia stagnate.

The Russian people face a small annoyance - political wars are declared and alliances are formed to build trust between mutual allies (and future foes).